13 March 2015
Magna Carta: A celebration of rights but the challenges still remain
The Magna Carta reaches its 800th birthday this year. Multiple celebrations are planned for this milestone including a march by Justice Alliance which took place on 23 February to celebrate the rights enshrined in the Magna Carta.
4 March 2015
Tough on crime – but not on the causes of crime
On 3 March 2015, The Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP launched a paper through the Policy Exchange entitled “Taking Its Toll: The regressive impact of property crime in Britain.”
3 March 2015
A timely reminder: Inadequate case preparation by the prosecution or the defence will not be tolerated
The need for thorough and careful case management has been re-iterated by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in the case of R v Boardman [2015] EWCA Crim 175.
Although the outcome of this case was that the Court of Appeal dismissed the Crown’s appeal against the ruling by HHJ Dutton, at Chester Crown Court, which effectively brought the prosecution to an end, the significance of this case is wider and applies to all criminal practitioners – not just prosecutors.
2 March 2015
New “drug driving” offence comes into force today
On 2 March 2015, changes to the offence of “drug driving” come into force in England and Wales. From 2 March it is illegal to drive with specified levels of certain drugs, included legal medication, in your system.
24 February 2015
Magna Carta or golden thread?
The Global Law Summit is celebrating 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta, widely regarded as one the most important legal safeguards but has it been overtaken by events?